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"Do something special for him, but don't tell him ahead of time," Leyenda grinned. "Just put your foot down."

Her smile faded slightly. "Seriously, though. A relationship can't always be about putting the other person first. It's not healthy. Romantic, perhaps, but not healthy. And it's not reality. It can't always be that way. And I'm sure you also feel that it's not fair, that you wish you could do more for him?"

Leyenda smiled softly. "I don't know the significance of tea," she murmured, "or even what it is, for that matter. But ..."

She put one hand on Lin's shoulder. "Whatever you want to do to show him that you care ... just do it. He may protest all he wants, but he'll love the attention, just for the fact that it came from you."

She gave Lin's shoulder a light squeeze, then let her go again. "To be honest, I think his father has something to do with the reason he's like this," she murmured. "Though I would appreciate if you didn't repeat that to anyone. Uncle Ruel ... he's the type of man who doesn't know anything and doesn't see anything unless it's spelled out for him. Growing up with a father like that, Earendil probably only knows to put those he loves before himself in every single matter."

"Good." Leyenda grinned at Lin, then turned to follow after the children.

They spent the morning cooking with the children, and they ended up preparing and packing over twenty different lunches for the children. Saffron gave the children two large wicker baskets to carry the lunches in, and though Leyenda offered to carry one of them, Amalirahc insisted on carrying it himself.

"You go talk to Saffron," he told her. "But not yet, in a bit, okay?"

Leyenda laughed. "All right." She turned to Lin. "Would you mind taking him as well? I was hoping to spend the afternoon with Kelirahc."

"Thanks," Leyenda smiled warmly. She grinned down at her son. "Now behave yourself, all right? And when Lin says it's time to come back, it's time to come back. We'll have a little celebration tonight with all of us."

"Okay, Mama," Amalirahc replied happily. "I'll be good."

"Good," Leyenda giggled. "Now go. I'll see you later."

"Bye!" Amalirahc ran after Lin and Miyuki, eager to show his handiwork to his new friends.

"It's okay, Miyuki," Amalirahc grinned. "You can carry it back! Then it will be lighter, right? Because we'll eat most of the food by then!"

The moment the playground was in sight, Amalirahc shouted out to their friends and started running, holding the basket high.

"They're here!" one of the children shouted, and suddenly it was like a wave of fiery heads swarming towards the three who had just arrived.

The children let out a loud cheer, and after eating the meal that they had brought (with a few additional snacks from the other children who had brought some) they passed the afternoon playing together, even getting Lin to participate a bit.

When they returned to the castle that evening, there was an air of excitement all around.

Leyenda spotted the group as they came in (she had been waiting for Amalirahc), and she waved to them and called out excitedly. "Lin! It's finally happened! Rhea's given birth!"

For some reason, the question seemed to amuse Leyenda. She laughed heartily at the question.

"Guess," she grinned as she reached them. She hugged her son tightly.

Amalirahc looked up at her. "You're acting funny," he told her.